During a September 2020 game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tristian Wirfs faced off against Derrick Brown for the first time. Wirfs was impressed by Brown’s athleticism and strength, recalling how Brown ran him back into quarterback Tom Brady. Brown’s abilities have continued to improve over the years, leading him to be selected for the 2024 Pro Bowl. The league’s top offensive linemen agree that facing Brown is a challenge, as he possesses a combination of strength, quickness, and a big motor. Despite opponents double-teaming him, Brown set a record of 103 tackles in the past season, which Wirfs described as “insane.”
During a dismal season for the Panthers, in which they only won two out of fifteen games, Brown set a record. This caused conflicting emotions for the third-year, former first-round pick. “It was tough for us to lose so many games,” Brown admitted before heading to his first Pro Bowl practice. “As a unit, especially on defense, we wish we could have done better. It’s awesome to reap this benefit myself, but it’s attributed to so much other stuff that went on from the defensive side of the ball.”
While Brown remains humble about his achievement, those who were on the receiving end of his talent this past season are quick to praise him. “That’s impressive,” said Tunsil. “I never thought I’d see it. That’s the type of player he is.”
The new format for the Pro Bowl means that defensive linemen are not as significant in the flag football game that replaced the old game. Instead, Brown and other D-linemen in Orlando will take part in a variety of skills challenges. However, what matters is that Brown was invited to Florida for what he did game after game for 17 weeks this past season.
